General Information

School Hours
8:55AM to 2:55PM

Late Policy
It is very important that each student arrive in his/her classroom,
ready to begin school, by 8:55AM. We ask that all students be in their
classrooms at 8:45AM. A student who arrives after 8:55AM should go to
the office to get a late slip before going to the classroom.

Absences
In
the event of an unanticipated absence, please have a parent or guardian
call the front office before 9:15AM. Every absence must be explained in
a written note that is signed and dated by a parent or guardian and
returned to the student’s advisor upon the student’s return to school.
If a parent or guardian has not called when a student is absent, an
automatic call will be made informing families of their child’s
absence.

Schedule
Putnam
Avenue Upper School follows a six day schedule during which students
take required classes and individually-identified electives. Individual
schedules and homeroom assignments will be provided to students before
their first day of school, and students will receive reminders of the
schedule cycle to keep them on track. As they adjust to the six day
cycle, homeroom will provide opportunities for reminders and
announcements, as well as a familiar anchor at the start of each day.

Trimesters
Upper
Schools follow a trimester system, which allows students to explore
additional electives and provides teachers with opportunities to report
on student progress three times per year. Trimesters also create
additional opportunities to explore elective courses. Each trimester
consists of approximately 13 weeks, including a 2-3 week “project
period.”

Project periods allow time for students to continue studying topics
in greater depth or to engage in interdisciplinary units designed for
them by teachers at their campus. Project periods are held at the end of
each trimester in order to provide opportunities for teacher
collaboration between schools such as citywide performances.

Transportation
Cambridge
Public Schools will provide transportation to all 6th-8th grade
students who must walk 1.5 miles or more to their assigned schools, and
to all students through grade 8 who must cross Fresh Pond Parkway,
McGrath Highway, or Alewife Brook Parkway, or who must cross the
railroad tracks at Sherman Street. Students who are not eligible for
transportation in the morning based on their home address may be
eligible to take a school bus to an after school program. Please contact
Tina Fisher in the Transportation department for more information.

Dismissal
If a student must leave before the end of the school day, a parent or
guardian must sign the student out at the main office, where the
student will be dismissed. If a parent or guardian is not picking up
the student, he/she must send in a written, signed, and dated note
explaining why and when the student is being dismissed. Additionally, a
parent or guardian must call the front office (617.349.7780) as early
as possible to inform staff of the early dismissal.

When the final bell rings at 2:55PM, students are expected to gather
their belongings and return to their advisories. Students are not
allowed to leave their advisories until they are called. Buses will be
called one at a time and students are expected to quietly and calmly
walk down the far stairwell and exit out the side door.